Morning Roundup 2/18/14

Michael Wear provides some interesting analysis...and I do think that the Pope is having an influence on the tone of evangelicalism. It's an interesting and surprising development to be sure.

In a post-secular world, and a post-Christian America, it seemed we might be past the time of towering faith figures and transnational, transcendent religious leaders. Enter Pope Francis—the pontiff formerly known as Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio—who is a religious rock star in a way many thought was impossible. Pope Francis has found a broad, welcoming audience in the United States, and American Catholics have found a new hope for their Church.

While evangelicals do not share Catholics' interest in the flourishing of the Catholic Church, evangelicals still have a stake in his popularity and success. The rise of Pope Francis suggests to evangelicals that even in this new century, Christians can have a faithful presence and influence in American public life.

Francis' popularity is driven by his pastoral, inclusive, and humble approach to the Pontificate. He has eschewed the worldly perks of some of his predecessors, opting for a simpler wardrobe and a less luxurious home and car. He has reached out to unexpected people: the Muslim girl whose feet he washed, the meetings and meals he has held with the homeless and those at the margins, his interview with atheist journalist Eugenio Scalfari, his encouragement to mothers to breastfeed in church, and his words of humility on the topic of gay priests.

But perhaps the most defining feature of the Francis pontificate so far is his pastoral approach to Catholic leadership. This is a man concerned with how people experience the church, and he understands the limits of declarations of doctrine without a lens of practical experience. This shift was best described by Francis himself:

The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.

One of the more fascinating trends we may see in years to come is missions to the United States. For example, the Redeemed Church of God was not a blip on the radar screen when we wrote Viral Churches, but I imagine we will hear stories about this more in the future.

For centuries, European and American missionaries have gone to Africa to spread the word of Christ. That trend is now working in reverse, with a Nigerian minister in Texas who plans to build churches as numerous as Starbucks coffee shops.

Drive an hour north-east of Dallas, and you will find yourself staring off into a barren, flat horizon. One out-of-place building rises above the landscape: a 10,000-seat auditorium.

It is the centrepiece for the Redeemed Christian Church of God in North America, a Pentecostal movement that started in Nigeria in 1952.

It is one of Africa's largest and most influential Christian movements, claiming more than five million followers worldwide, mostly in Nigeria.

Pastor James Fadele, who runs the Church in North America, said God told the Church's leader Enoch Adeboye that its North American headquarters would be founded near Dallas - but not where, and not when.

Then, Fadele said, a white man in Texas had a vision.

"God told him, 'The land doesn't belong to you, it belongs to a group of church people,'" Fadele said. "'When you meet them, I will let you know who they are.'"

Fadele, a short man with a booming voice, said a few Redeemed Church members were eating at a local restaurant when they were approached by the white man.

The man told them God had asked him to buy a patch of land, but that the Church was the owner.

"They accepted it, they paid the check, and the rest, as they say, is history," said Fadele with a laugh.

Dhati Lewis is the Lead Pastor at Blueprint Church, an Atlanta church plant that is unleashing healthy people to do ministry where life exists. Guest host Micah Fries interviews Dhati via Skype about mentoring, discipleship, cross-cultural ministry and more. In this clip, Dhati shares thoughts on raising up co-laborers, not just converts. Don't forget to join me every Tuesday at 3:00 PM Eastern for The Exchange.